Francis Montgomery, veteran, DuPont retiree
Francis “Pat” Montgomery, 77, passed away peacefully at home with family Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. Born in Chester, Pa., to James and Margaret Sheridan Montgomery, he spent his early years in Claymont, most of his adult life in Wilmington and his last several years in Lewes.
He attended Salesianum School, graduating in 1966, and was proud to serve our country in the U.S. Air Force from 1968-70 when he was discharged to take care of his mother. He attended Goldey-Beacom and graduated with a degree in business management from Wilmington College (now University) in 1979. Pat worked for the DuPont Company for 28 years, taking an early retirement in 2001. After a year of boredom, he returned to work in numerous positions at Opportunity Center Inc. and ended his work career at Rock Manor Golf Course in 2012. He loved his family and friends deeply, even more than the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies. He had a great laugh and a strong sense of loyalty. If you were a friend of Pat’s, you had a friend for life. He had many buddies from “Tough Guy Corner” at O’Friel’s Irish Pub and later Kid Shelleen’s.
Pat is survived by his wife, Kathryn (Kathy) Laffey Montgomery; his children, M. Sheridan Pelegrin, Christopher Patrick Montgomery and Jamie Shay Montgomery, all from Wilmington. He also leaves his brothers and their wives, J. Michael (Michele) and Sean (Eileen); his favorite sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Rhodes, Ann Thurlow and Maureen Freel; his brothers-in-law, Rick Rhodes and Ed Freel, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Pat was predeceased by his son-in-law, J. Patrick Pelegrin.
Friends are welcome to join the family for Pat’s memorial service with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 27, at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington. Memories and prayers will start at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, consider a memorial donation to the Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org, which was his chosen charity
To offer online condolences, visit chandlerfuneralhome.com.
